Anonymity, Selcourt Seek Return to Glory in L.A. Woman

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Anonymity, Selcourt Seek Return to Glory in L.A. Woman
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Selcourt wins the 2018 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita Park

With the top older female sprinter in California, Marley's Freedom, receiving a freshening from racing, this West Coast division is seemingly without a leading prospect heading into the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park. That is, unless the $100,000 L.A. Woman Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita alters the picture Oct. 5.

Though the six competitors in the race are short on recent accomplishments—not one in the group has a graded win in 2019—there is past Breeders' Cup representation within the field. Anonymity and Selcourt contended in the Filly and Mare Sprint last year at Churchill Downs, with Anonymity rallying for third—beaten a neck in a blanket finish—and Selcourt finishing 12th after setting a taxing pace from her inside post.

Neither is a winner in 2019, but they've come close with runner-up finishes in limited time on the track. 

Anonymity, a full sister to 2011 champion juvenile Hansen, finished behind to Marley's Freedom to get second in the July 6 Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos before a close second to Danuska's My Girl in the Aug. 11 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at Del Mar. A 5-year-old Tapit  mare owned by LNJ Foxwoods, she will make just her third start of the year for trainer Richard Mandella. Victor Espinoza will ride.

Video: Rancho Bernardo H. (G3)



The John Sadler-trained Selcourt returns from an extended hiatus. Away since Mar. 30 when she weakened to fourth in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) going two turns at Santa Anita, she moves back to sprinting. Nine of her 10 starts were sprints.

Before the Beholder Mile, the 5-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful was second in both the Feb. 16 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) and Jan. 13 Kalookan Queen Stakes, both at Santa Anita, for owners Keith Abrahams and Medallion Racing. 

The 6 1/2-furlong L.A. Woman is rounded out by 3-year-old Beverly J. Lewis Stakes winner Flor de La Mar, Rancho Bernardo third-place finisher Lady Ninja, longtime turf router Streak of Luck, and California-bred stakes winner Show It N Moe It. 


Entries: L.A. Woman S. (G3)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 05, 2019, Race 5

  • Grade III
  • 6 1/2f
  • Dirt
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 2:50 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Flor de La Mar (KY) Mike E. Smith 118 Bob Baffert 6/1
2 2Lady Ninja (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Drayden Van Dyke 123 Richard Baltas 5/2
3 3Streak of Luck (CA) Tyler Baze 123 Matthew Chew 12/1
4 4Anonymity (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Victor Espinoza 123 Richard E. Mandella 2/1
5 5Show It N Moe It (CA) Rafael Bejarano 123 Gary Sherlock 12/1
6 6Selcourt (KY) Joseph Talamo 125 John W. Sadler 8/5